Distortion
Use the Distortion effect to make the audio sound distorted. By distorting the waveform the frequency content is changed, which will often make the sound 'crunchy' or 'abrasive'.
Technically this effect is a waveshaper. The result of waveshaping is equivalent to applying non-linear amplification to the audio waveform. Preset shaping functions are provided, each of which produces a different type of distortion.
- Accessed by:

Distortion type
These are the shaping functions. Each type defines how the input signal is mapped to the output level.
Each distortion type has one or more control parameters that determine how the shaping function is applied. There is a total of five slider controls. The controls are enabled or disabled automatically depending on which "type" of distortion is selected.
Hard Clipping
Parameters:
- Clipping level:
- Drive:
- Make-up Gain:
Soft Clipping
Parameters:
- Clipping level:
- Drive:
- Make-up Gain:
Soft Overdrive
Parameters:
Medium Overdrive
Parameters:
Hard Overdrive
Parameters:
Cubic Curve (odd harmonics)
Parameters:
Even Harmonics
Parameters:
Expand and Compress
Parameters:
Leveller
This type of distortion is modelled on the "Leveller" (or "Leveler") effect that was included in older versions of Audacity.
Parameters:
- Noise floor (-80 to -20): [default = -70] This is equivalent to the "Noise Threshold" setting in the original "Leveller" effect. It sets the noise threshold for the effect. For audio that is not already at maximum volume, higher threshold settings tend to amplify the audio by a lesser amount, and may reduce the chance of background noise becoming obtrusive.
- Levelling fine adjustment (0 to 100): [default = 0] This is an additional control that was not available in the original effect. It allows fine adjustment of the amounts of "levelling".
- Degree of Levelling (0 to 5): [default = 1] Controls the amount of levelling that is applied to the signal. When the fine adjustment is at zero, the amounts 0 to 5 are equivalent to the original effect choices: 1 = Light, 2 = Moderate, 3 = Heavy, 4 = Heavier, 5 = Heaviest.
Rectifier Distortion
Parameters:
Hard Limiter 1413
Parameters:
The buttons
Clicking on the command buttons give the following results:
- gives a dropdown menu enabling you to manage presets for the tool and to see some detail about the tool. For details see Manage presets.
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